Your seven responsibilities as the client in the Construction Regulations

If you're the person for whom construction work is being performed. Or if you have contractors working for you, you're the client. And according to the new Construction Regulations you have a lot more responsibilities...

Dear Reader

Are you the person for whom construction work is being performed? Or do you have contractors working for you? In other words, you're 'the client' and according to the new Construction Regulations you have a lot more responsibilities.

Let's look at your seven responsibilities according to the new Construction Regulations.

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Your seven responsibilities according to the new Construction Regulations

You're responsible to make sure that:

Any contractors and their employees working on your premises comply with the relevant health and safety laws;

The principle contractor budgets for all health and safety costs in his tenders;

All your contractors are medically fit;

Your contractor is registered and in good standing with a Compensation Fund;

Keep reading for your last three responsibilities…

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Your seven responsibilities continued…

You're responsible to make sure that:

The contractor has the right competencies and resources to carry out the construction work;

You appoint every principal contractor in writing, and the contractor's health and safety plan is available on request; and

Your contractor does periodic health and safety audits at least every 30 days. He must submit the audit report within 7 days from date of audit to you as the client and to other contractors if audit was performed on them.

(Regulation 5, Construction Regulations, 2014)

It's important for you to know your responsibilities before entering into any construction work, or calling for any tenders. If you don't, you can face criminal charges, be liable for a fine or even jail time. Your construction work can be stopped, meaning you'll incur additional costs that you'll have to pay your contractor.

PS – We're also launching a complete Construction Regulations Compliance Guide to make sure you implement the new Construction Regulations changes 100% correctly. Email Louise@fsp.co.za and you'll be the first to know when it hits the market.

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Your seven responsibilities as the client in the Construction Regulations

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